116 THE ADIRONDACK. 



can one stay where he is cheated, exasperated, slan- 

 dered, and mortified, when he has the broad forest to 

 rejoice in, and such companions only as his own choice 

 may select ? 



Towards night, we came to a clearing, the five 

 families of which composed the entire town. Just 

 before sunset, our host, a cousin of Cheney, and my- 

 self, went to a lake close by, on the opposite shore of 

 which two deer were quietly grazing. Stepping into 

 a boat, we endeavored to get within shot, but a loon 

 a little way off, kept up such a loud and continual 

 scream, that they were more than usually cautious, 

 and soon moved away. Cheney had a huge black dog 

 with which I became on the most intimate terms, 

 much to the surprise of his master who declared he 

 had never before seen him so playful with a stranger. 

 I told him I did not doubt it, for hunters had often 

 made the same remark to me, but that I prided my- 

 self on only one quality — the power to win the love of 

 children and dogs. He said he was an excellent dog 

 for bears, and only a few months before attacked one 

 on the side-hill opposite the house, and kept him ai 

 bay all day. Soon as Bruin attempted to run he 

 would fasten on his haunches, thus compelling him to 



